The competition calendar for Australia’s upcoming Summer of Athletics has today been confirmed by Athletics Australia and its Member Associations.

Culminating in the eight-day 2017 Australian Athletics Championships that will bring together more than 3500 participants in an all-ages format at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre, the 2016/2017 Australian Athletics Season also features the two-day SUMMERofATHS Grand Prix in the nation’s capital for able-bodied and para-athletes and a renewed focus on Championship events hosted in each of the States and Territories.

“The Summer of Athletics will once again showcase Australia’s track and field talent, with State and Territory championships, predominantly held across the month of February, set to provide outstanding competition opportunities for the thousands of athletes that compete each and every summer,” Tracey Gaudry, the Athletics Australia General Manager – Commercial and Growth, said.

“The two-day SUMMERofATHS Grand Prix in Canberra will welcome the very best able-bodied and para-athletes as they make final preparations for the 2017 Australian Athletics Championships. The new look ‘Nationals’, designed in conjunction with our Member Associations, will be the largest annual athletics event in Australia and the Oceania-Pacific region and will bring together participants of all ages in the pursuit of personal bests, national championship medals and Australian team selection.

“We can’t wait to share the journey towards this revitalised concept with the Australian athletics community.”

In other summer of athletics highlights:

– The Australian 5000m Championships for men and women will be hosted within the SUMMERofATHS Grand Prix in Canberra on 11-12 March, 2017, allowing distance athletes the chance to compete in both this event and the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala (UGA) later in the month

– Zatopek:10 on 8 December 2016 will again host the Australian 10,000m Championships for men and women

– Australia’s walkers will have the chance to compete on the road twice, with Melbourne (Vic) to host the Australian 50km Race Walking Championships in December 2016 before Adelaide (SA) welcomes starters for the Australian 20km Race Walking Championships in February 2017; and

– The 2017 Australian Little Athletics Championships will be held in April 2017, with this two-day event to also be hosted at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre

For more information on the 2016/2017 Australian Summer Athletics Season calendar, please click here to read a series of Frequently Asked Questions.